New Steam CRPG Glasshouse Combines Political Storytelling With Turn Based Combat
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Upcoming Steam CRPG Glasshouse blends the heavy political storytelling of Disco Elysium with the industrial aesthetic of Dishonored and deep turn based combat.
The steampunk and dieselpunk aesthetics often get overshadowed by standard sci-fi and fantasy settings, but an upcoming Steam game called Glasshouse is looking to change that. Reported by GameRant, developer Flat28 is building a feudalpunk CRPG set in a lockdown apartment block on the brink of a world war. Players step into the shoes of Wealdmear, a deputy navigating a mysterious triple murder while managing heavy political intrigue. The game borrows the intellectual depth and dialogue heavy focus of Disco Elysium, combined with a distinct visual flair that brings to mind the industrial grit of Dishonored.
At the core of Glasshouse is a political compass system that shapes how characters interact with the world around them. Instead of simple alignment trees, players build their ideology across five distinct pillars, which directly impacts dialogue options and relationships with NPCs inside the cramped working class dwellings of Lundonstoch. While the game encourages talking your way out of tight spots and even features a mechanic where players can make enemies surrender through clever conversation, it also includes a robust turn based combat system for when diplomacy fails.
Character progression goes beyond standard leveling by incorporating reading mechanics and workshop crafting, allowing players to build gear and gain knowledge to unlock exclusive dialogue trees. With eight different endings promised, the narrative scope is massive. While the project currently only lists a coming soon release window on Steam, it offers a compelling concept for players who treat narrative heavy single player games as their primary escape.
Developing a spiritual successor to a modern classic like Disco Elysium is a monumental task, especially for a debut studio. However, the premise of tackling post capitalist themes and complex political conspiracies gives Glasshouse a solid foundation. For players who love deep lore, meaningful choices, and complex digital economies of choice and consequence, this is definitely one to add to the wishlist.
Tags: Steam, CRPG, PC Gaming, Indie Games
Original article: Game Rant